Jacques Barzun
Jacques Barzun CC '27 is a cultural historian and was one of the great professors a Columbian could have in the mid-20th century. He is still alive, amazingly. He most recently wrote a mammoth 500 year history of the West entitled From Dawn To Decadence.
When he was an undergraduate, Barzun was president of Philo, drama critic for Spec, and editor of Varsity, a now-defunct literary magazine. He was immediately made an instructor in the history department upon graduation, became a full professor in 1945, earned the Seth Low Professor of History chair in 1960, and became a University Professor in 1967.
Barzun was also instrumental in the development of the Core, developing in 1932 a proto-Lit Hum class called the Colloquium on Important Books, which he would co-teach with Lionel Trilling.
He also served in a number of administrative posts, including Dean of Graduate Faculties and Provost.
Columbia's graduation robes were changed from the traditional black to slate blue at Barzun's prompting, the newer color being more comfortable in warm weather, as is typical during Commencement.
He retired in 1975 and currently lives in Texas.
| Preceded by John A. Krout |
Provost 1958-1967 |
Succeeded by David B. Truman |
